The daring warrior4 who performed this remarkable5 feat6 had no sooner secured the boy than he righted himself on the back of his horse, sitting bolt upright, while, almost at the same instant, the dead run was toned down to a moderate walk. Turning his head, the Apache emitted several tantalizing7 whoops8, intended to irritate the whites into firing.
Although he was within easy rifle-shot, no one essayed to fire, and he knew none would do so. Not even that skillful marksman, Sut Simpson, dared make the trial, for the painted body of the sinewy9 red-skin was covered by that of the boy, whom he held in front of him, and he who fired at the wretch10 was much more likely to kill the lad so cunningly held in his arms. Thus it was that the captor made off with his prize, and no one was able to check him, although the hearts of the whites were burning with rage and with the desire to shoot the Apache who had baffled them so utterly11.
Fred was still struggling, in the frantic12 hope of twisting himself loose from the grasp of the redskin, when the latter spoke13 in his harsh, guttural voice:
“Stop, or I'll kill.”
This was said in the best of English, and the boy was astonished, as may well be supposed, at the linguistic14 accomplishment15 of the Indian. At first he imagined that it was a white man painted and disguised, but one searching glance not only removed that impression, but revealed the identity of his captor. It was Lone16 Wolf, whom he had baffled the night before in the wood.
“It's all up with me now,” was the thought of Fred, when this intelligence flashed upon him. “He will never forgive me for the way I stopped him last night. How sorry I am that I didn't shoot him when I had such a good chance!”
For one minute he thought of appealing to his mercy, but a brief reflection convinced him that that was worse than useless, and he abandoned the idea as absurd. He was old enough to know that Indians are merciless.
It will be remembered that night was closing in when Fred was captured and a few minutes later, when he turned his head back toward New Boston, he was unable to distinguish a single house.
The mustang bearing captor and prisoner dropped into an easy gallop17, passing entirely18 out of the valley and a short distance over the prairie, where, when he halted, he found himself amid some thirty or forty mounted Apaches. Here a halt was made and the red-skins engaged in a consultation19, which, as a matter of course, was conducted in their own language, and, consequently, was unintelligible20 to the lad, who was as deeply interested as any of them in the proceedings21.
The scene was a strange one, and was so firmly impressed upon his memory that he was sure he could not forget it if he lived a hundred years. The Indians he saw now for the first time with their animals perfectly22 motionless. They were grouped around their chief in an irregular circle, and in the gathering23 darkness, with their long, coarse, black hair dangling24 over their shoulders; their low, scarcely perceptible foreheads; broad, misshapen, painted faces and their hideous25 figures, they formed as unearthly a scene as can be conjured26 up. Several persisted in talking at the same moment, and they indulged liberally in gesture, so that it was very apparent that something exciting was before the convention.
What it was, Fred could not conjecture27 satisfactorily to himself. He could not believe that he himself was regarded of sufficient importance to cause any such discussion, and from what he had heard of the war-chief, it did not seem probable that he would allow any such wrangle28 over a prisoner which he had in his own possession. It surely was over some other matter, probably concerning the action of the Apaches, regarding which he had invited discussion; but whatever it was, Fred could only content himself with looking and listening.
The lad felt that he was as helpless as an infant, and, now that he had been given time to collect his senses, he stopped making any further effort to escape from his captor. Knowing the uncontrollable temper of the Indians, he resolved not to provoke an outburst by any action of his own. The wonder with him was, that the chief did not kill him the minute he found that he was in his power. They had not shown any desire to make prisoners, when it was so much more easy to rid themselves of their captives by a blow from the tomahawk or the thrust of the knife.
“I suppose they mean to do something dreadful with me,” was the thought of Fred, as he shudderingly29 looked around upon the repulsive30 group.
There could be but little doubt of that, and he could do nothing but ask heaven to protect him in the terrible danger in which he was placed. At such a time a person's mind is unusually active and a hundred schemes agitated31 the mind of the young captive—schemes which, when analyzed32 by the clear light of reason, were about as unsubstantial as the fabric33 of a dream. Fred felt that if he was not killed immediately there was some chance for him. A few hours, or at least a day or two, would give time for his friends to do something. Mickey O'Rooney, upon returning to the settlement (as he would have to do sooner or later), would not consent to remain there as long as the fate of his young friend was in doubt. And there was Sut Simpson, the hunter, who had taken so much pains to come and warn the settlers of the impending34 attack. He had witnessed the capture of the lad and was certain to do all he could to rescue him. His long experience in the west, and his numerous encounters with these Indians, had given him a knowledge which would be of great value in such an emergency. Fred recalled too, that he had heard it stated more than once that the Indians frequently took prisoners for the purpose of ransom35, and that he might be restored in this manner so soon as communication could be opened between the Apaches and his friends.
It so happened, therefore, as the minutes passed, that something like the renewal36 of hope came to the heart of the lad, who had reached the conclusion that the subject under discussion did not relate to himself.
This Apache convention did not prolong its session. Lone Wolf seemed to permit his warriors37 to talk until he became weary, when he said a few words, and the talk ended. During the discussion, numbers had continued to come in, until there were over a hundred gathered together. The moon was shining from a clear sky overhead, and the group gathered on the open prairie, where the members thereof were in readiness to dash in any direction, in case of an attack. With the words of Lone Wolf came the adjournment38 of the convention. The talk ceased instantly, as if by magic, and the heads of the horses were turned toward the north.
The Indians were about to leave the neighborhood where they had been so roughly used by the whites. A number had already gone, bearing with them the dead and wounded, and the remainder were about to depart—that is, for a time, until their forces could be marshaled into a body that would sweep New Boston from the face of the earth. Such was the decree of Lone Wolf. Was he to permit a party of white men to plant a settlement in the very heart of his country? Was he to allow his hunting grounds to be appropriated in this fashion? Was he to submit quietly to the encroachments of those who had never so much as asked his consent? Not so long as he could summon an army of the best warriors of the Southwest to his command. If his present company had been too small, then he would double and treble it. At all events, the power would be provided to accomplish his purpose.
The horsemen speedily arranged themselves; the head of all turned in a northerly direction. It took some minutes for them to arrange themselves, but they were about ready to receive the command of their chief, when the report of a rifle broke upon the stillness. An Indian, with a spasmodic shriek39, threw up his arms and rolled backward, and then from his steed, which snorted and reared, as if it, too, had suffered some injury.
This warrior was directly in the rear of Lone Wolf, and had been so fairly in line with him that there could be no doubt that the bullet had really been intended for the chief. The point from whence it came could not be mistaken.
Over half of the war-party saw the flash of the gun, off to their right, in the direction of the settlement, and those who chanced not to see it were quickly informed of the spot by the appearance of a horse, looking as if he had sprung from the ground itself. No rider was visible; but, of course, he was there, as he had just demonstrated by means of his shot. That there might be no doubt of his identity, he uttered a loud yell, like that with which one Indian defies another, and called out in the Apache tongue:
“Sut Simpson sends the shot for the heart of Lone Wolf, who is a dog and a coward.”
This was the favorite taunt40 of the hunter when he sought to draw out his old enemy. Some of the numerous scars which he received were the direct result of his daring defiance41, and he was hopeful that the challenge would accomplish something in the present case. Nor was he disappointed.
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1
vigor
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| n.活力，精力，元气 | |
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swooped
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| 俯冲，猛冲( swoop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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hoofs
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| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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6
feat
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| n.功绩；武艺，技艺；adj.灵巧的，漂亮的，合适的 | |
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7
tantalizing
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| adj.逗人的；惹弄人的；撩人的；煽情的v.逗弄，引诱，折磨( tantalize的现在分词 ) | |
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8
whoops
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| int.呼喊声 | |
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sinewy
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| adj.多腱的，强壮有力的 | |
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10
wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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11
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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13
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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14
linguistic
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| adj.语言的，语言学的 | |
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accomplishment
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| n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能 | |
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lone
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| adj.孤寂的，单独的；唯一的 | |
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gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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18
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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consultation
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| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
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20
unintelligible
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| adj.无法了解的，难解的，莫明其妙的 | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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22
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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23
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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24
dangling
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| 悬吊着( dangle的现在分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
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25
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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26
conjured
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| 用魔术变出( conjure的过去式和过去分词 )； 祈求，恳求； 变戏法； （变魔术般地） 使…出现 | |
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27
conjecture
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| n./v.推测，猜测 | |
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28
wrangle
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| vi.争吵 | |
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29
shudderingly
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30
repulsive
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| adj.排斥的，使人反感的 | |
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31
agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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32
analyzed
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| v.分析( analyze的过去式和过去分词 )；分解；解释；对…进行心理分析 | |
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33
fabric
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| n.织物，织品，布；构造，结构，组织 | |
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34
impending
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| a.imminent, about to come or happen | |
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ransom
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| n.赎金，赎身；v.赎回，解救 | |
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36
renewal
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| adj.(契约)延期，续订，更新，复活，重来 | |
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37
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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38
adjournment
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| 休会； 延期； 休会期； 休庭期 | |
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39
shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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40
taunt
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| n.辱骂，嘲弄；v.嘲弄 | |
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41
defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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